St. George was a tribune in the Roman army. One day when he was on his way to join his legion, he came to a city whose inhabitants were in great terror on account of a terrible dragon which lived in a marsh near the walls. This fearful monster had devoured all the flocks and herds; and the people, having retired into the city, gave him daily two sheep until all they had were gone. Then, in order to prevent his approaching the city, they commenced to send out two children to be devoured by this greedy monster. Terrible as this was, it was better than to have him come near them; for his breath poisoned the air for a great distance about him, and all who breathed it died. The children were chosen by lot, and were less than fifteen years old.
Now the king had a daughter whom he loved exceedingly. At length the lot fell to her. The king offered all he possessed, even to the half of the kingdom, that she might be spared; but the people said that, as it was his own edict that their children had been sacrificed, there was no reason why his daughter should be spared, and they threatened to take the princess by force if she was not delivered to them. Then the king asked that she might be spared to him eight days longer. This request was granted, and at the end of that time the princess went forth to the sacrifice, clothed in her royal robes and declaring herself ready
and willing to die for her people. As she moved slowly toward the field where the dragon came daily for his victims, she saw that the way was strewn with the bones of those who had already perished. Just then St. George came to the place. Seeing her in tears, he stopped to learn the cause of her sorrow. After she had told him, he said, "Fear not, for Iwill deliver thee!" She replied, " 0 noble youth, tarry not here, lest thou perish with me; but fly, I beseech thee!" Then St. George answered, "God forbid that I should fly! I will lift my hand against this loathly thing, and will deliver thee through the power of Jesus Christ!" Even as he spoke, the dragon approached them. Then the princess again entreated him, "Fly , I beseech thee, brave knight, and leave me here to die!" But St. George, making the sign of the cross, rushed to combat with the monster. The struggle was terrible, but at length the dragon was pinned to the earth by the lance of the brave knight. He then bound the dragon with the girdle of the princess; and when he gave it to her, she was able to lead the conquered beast like a dog. In this manner they approached the city. The people were filled with fear; but St. George cried, "Fear nothing; only believe in the God through whose might I have conquered this enemy, and be baptized. Then I will destroy him before your eyes." On that day twenty thousand people were baptized. After this, St. George slew the dragon and cut off his head. The king gave him great treasures; but St. George gave all to the poor, keeping nothing for himself. Then he went on his way toward Palestine.
This was the time of the publication of the Edict of Diocletian, which declared the persecution against the Christians. All who read it were filled with terror, but St. George tore it down and trod it into the dust. For this he was carried before the proconsul Dacian, and condemned to eight days' torture. He was first bound to a cross, and his body torn with sharp nails; next he was burned with torches, and then salt was rubbed into his wounds. Seeing that all these horrible cruelties had no power to vanquish the spirit of the Saint, Dacian sent for an enchanter, who invoked the aid of Satan, and then poisoned a cup of wine which St. George drank. Before drinking the wine, however, St. George made the sign of the cross, and the poison had no effect on him. The magician was converted to Christianity by this miracle.
St. George was next bound upon a wheel filled with sharp knives, but two angels descended from heaven and broke it into pieces. They then put him into boiling oil. Believing that he must now be subdued, the judges took him to assist at the sacrifices in the heathen temple. Crowds came to witness his humiliation. But the Saint knelt down and prayed, and instantly there came thunder and lightning from heaven. The temple was destroyed; the idols were crushed; while the priests and many of the people perished. At last Dacian commanded the saintly hero to be beheaded. He met death with joy and courage.
In Europe St. George was but little honored until the time of the Crusades, when the aid he obtained for Godfrey of Boulogne made Christian soldiers seek his patronage. When Richard I made holy war, he placed his army under the protection of St. George, who from this time has been patron saint of England. His feast was ordered to be kept through all England in 1222.
Source: Misericordia Fifth Reader, Imprimatur 1928
Three coloring pictures of Saint George can be found below.
Now the king had a daughter whom he loved exceedingly. At length the lot fell to her. The king offered all he possessed, even to the half of the kingdom, that she might be spared; but the people said that, as it was his own edict that their children had been sacrificed, there was no reason why his daughter should be spared, and they threatened to take the princess by force if she was not delivered to them. Then the king asked that she might be spared to him eight days longer. This request was granted, and at the end of that time the princess went forth to the sacrifice, clothed in her royal robes and declaring herself ready
and willing to die for her people. As she moved slowly toward the field where the dragon came daily for his victims, she saw that the way was strewn with the bones of those who had already perished. Just then St. George came to the place. Seeing her in tears, he stopped to learn the cause of her sorrow. After she had told him, he said, "Fear not, for Iwill deliver thee!" She replied, " 0 noble youth, tarry not here, lest thou perish with me; but fly, I beseech thee!" Then St. George answered, "God forbid that I should fly! I will lift my hand against this loathly thing, and will deliver thee through the power of Jesus Christ!" Even as he spoke, the dragon approached them. Then the princess again entreated him, "Fly , I beseech thee, brave knight, and leave me here to die!" But St. George, making the sign of the cross, rushed to combat with the monster. The struggle was terrible, but at length the dragon was pinned to the earth by the lance of the brave knight. He then bound the dragon with the girdle of the princess; and when he gave it to her, she was able to lead the conquered beast like a dog. In this manner they approached the city. The people were filled with fear; but St. George cried, "Fear nothing; only believe in the God through whose might I have conquered this enemy, and be baptized. Then I will destroy him before your eyes." On that day twenty thousand people were baptized. After this, St. George slew the dragon and cut off his head. The king gave him great treasures; but St. George gave all to the poor, keeping nothing for himself. Then he went on his way toward Palestine.
This was the time of the publication of the Edict of Diocletian, which declared the persecution against the Christians. All who read it were filled with terror, but St. George tore it down and trod it into the dust. For this he was carried before the proconsul Dacian, and condemned to eight days' torture. He was first bound to a cross, and his body torn with sharp nails; next he was burned with torches, and then salt was rubbed into his wounds. Seeing that all these horrible cruelties had no power to vanquish the spirit of the Saint, Dacian sent for an enchanter, who invoked the aid of Satan, and then poisoned a cup of wine which St. George drank. Before drinking the wine, however, St. George made the sign of the cross, and the poison had no effect on him. The magician was converted to Christianity by this miracle.
St. George was next bound upon a wheel filled with sharp knives, but two angels descended from heaven and broke it into pieces. They then put him into boiling oil. Believing that he must now be subdued, the judges took him to assist at the sacrifices in the heathen temple. Crowds came to witness his humiliation. But the Saint knelt down and prayed, and instantly there came thunder and lightning from heaven. The temple was destroyed; the idols were crushed; while the priests and many of the people perished. At last Dacian commanded the saintly hero to be beheaded. He met death with joy and courage.
In Europe St. George was but little honored until the time of the Crusades, when the aid he obtained for Godfrey of Boulogne made Christian soldiers seek his patronage. When Richard I made holy war, he placed his army under the protection of St. George, who from this time has been patron saint of England. His feast was ordered to be kept through all England in 1222.
Source: Misericordia Fifth Reader, Imprimatur 1928
Three coloring pictures of Saint George can be found below.
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